MLB Power Rankings: Which Teams Are the Biggest Over- and Under-Achievers?

ESPN.com has a nifty little stat on the Standings page of their MLB website: Expected Wins and Losses.

It's a great way to see how your club is performing given how they should be doing at this point in the season, based on the strength of their roster.

Here's a ranking of all 30 MLB teams in order from most under-achieving ball club to most over-achieving so far in 2011.

30. Cincinnati Reds

The 2010 NL Central champs are having a very rough go of it in 2011, and their slow start to the season, despite many assuming it was only temporary, hasn't been.

Expected Record: 60-51

Actual Record: 54-57

Difference: -6

29. New York Yankees

While it isn't as if the Yankees are playing poorly, with a record of 68-42 and a share of first place in the AL East with the Boston Red Sox, they are playing below expectations when it comes to that record.

Expected Record: 73-37

Actual Record: 68-42

Difference: -5

28. Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers are in first place in the AL West, but have the Angels right behind them, just a game back.

Expected Record: 66-46

Actual Record: 62-50

Difference: -4

27. Oakland Athletics

The A's have the third-best team ERA in the American League (3.50) and yet are hovering just above dead-last in the AL West.

Talk about underachieving.

Expected Record: 53-58

Actual Record: 49-62

Difference: -4

26. San Diego Padres

After having a breakout season in which they missed the postseason by losing on the final day of the regular season in 2010, the Padres have collapsed into the basement of the NL West in 2011.

Nevertheless, they should be playing a little better than they are.

Expected Record: 52-60

Actual Record: 48-64

Difference: -4

25. Houston Astros

The Astros didn't come into 2011 with high hopes, but they can't be happy with where they currently rank on this list.

Expected Record: 41-70

Actual Record: 37-74

Difference: -4

24. Kansas City Royals

The Royals didn't exactly expect to be lighting up the win column on a very regular basis, but they are still underachieving.

Expected Record: 51-60

Actual Record: 48-63

Difference: -3

23. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cards have had to deal with injuries, the big one being slugger Albert Pujols, but nevertheless should have a better record to this point.

Expected Record: 61-51

Actual Record: 59-53

Difference: -2

22. Colorado Rockies

Before the season began, the Colorado Rockies were thought to be the team with the best chance to dethrone the Giants in the NL West.

That prediction certainly hasn't panned out.

Expected Record: 54-58

Actual Record:52-60

Difference: -2

21. Toronto Blue Jays

The Jays may have the MLB leader in homers in Jose Bautista, but that hasn't prevented them from underachieving so far in 2011.

Expected Record: 57-54

Actual Record: 56-55

Difference: -1

20. Tampa Bay Rays

After a fantastic season in 2010 in which they made the postseason but lost to the Texas Rangers in the ALDS, the Rays don't appear to be headed for another playoff berth in 2011.

Expected Record: 59-51

Actual Record: 58-52

Difference: -1

19. New York Mets

The Mets have lost closer Francisco Rodriguez and slugger Carlos Beltran.

New York should still be one game better, however.

Expected Record: 56-54

Actual Record: 55-55

Difference: -1

18. Boston Red Sox

Believe it or not, the Red Sox should have a better record than they do at the moment.

Expected Record: 69-41

Actual Record: 68-42

Difference: -1

17. Los Angeles Dodgers

Despite all of their issues as a franchise off the field, the Dodgers are right where they are expected to be at this point in 2011:

Expected Record: 50-60

Actual Record: 50-60

Difference: 0

16. Washington Nationals

The future looks hopeful for the Nationals, with Stephen Strasburg making progress on his return to the mound following elbow surgery, and young phenom Bryce Harper tearing up minor league pitching.

The Nationals are playing as expected.

Expected Record: 53-58

Actual Record: 53-58

Difference: 0

15. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners? Overachieving.

It's true.

Expected Record: 47-63

Actual Record: 48-62

Difference: +1

14. Chicago White Sox

The White Sox have been having issues lately, but are actually playing one game better than expected at this point in the season.

Expected Record: 51-59

Actual Record: 52-58

Difference: +1

13. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates were a huge surprise in the first half, but since the All-Star break have begun to fade, having lost seven straight.

Nonetheless, they are still overachieving, even if by just a single game.

Expected Record: 53-57

Actual Record: 54-56

Difference: +1

12. Cleveland Indians

How about them Indians?

They started off as the hottest team in baseball in 2011, and though they've cooled off considerably, they're still an overachiever.

Expected Record: 54-55

Actual Record: 55-54

Difference: +1

11. Philadelphia Phillies

With the best record in baseball, you'd think the Phillies would be overachieving by more than one game.

That just shows how good this club really is.

Expected Record: 71-40

Actual Record: 72-39

Difference: +1

10. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are the perennial underachievers, not having won the World Series in 103 years and counting despite some very talented teams over that span.

But this season, as bad as they are, they're overachieving.

Expected Record: 45-67

Actual Record: 47-65

Difference: +2

9. Atlanta Braves

Despite some key injuries and a team batting average (.243) ranked 13th in the National League, the Braves are the favorites to win another NL Wild Card in 2011.

Expected Record: 62-50

Actual Record: 64-48

Difference: +2

8. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Angels have been surging as of late, and now find themselves just one game behind the Texas Rangers for the AL West lead.

Expected Record: 59-53

Actual Record: 61-51

Difference: +2

7. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles had such a great start to 2011 that there were premature dreams of postseason baseball at Camden Yards.

Well, even though that's not going to happen, Buck's boys are playing better than was expected by this point in the season.

Expected Record: 40-68

Actual Record: 43-65

Difference: +3

6. Florida Marlins

The Marlins were looking good until about June, when things started to slide. Still, the Fish are three games better than they ought to be at this point.

Expected Record: 52-59

Actual Record: 55-56

Difference: +3

5. Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks are one of the biggest surprises of 2011, and they are pushing the defending world champion Giants for the division lead out west.

Expected Record: 58-53

Actual Record: 61-50

Difference: +3

4. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers have been impressive, and currently lead the AL Central by three games over the surprising Indians.

Expected Record: 55-56

Actual Record: 59-52

Difference: +4

3. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brew-Crew has been streaking, and has opened up a three game lead on the Cards, in what is a usually air-tight NL Central.

Expected Record: 58-54

Actual Record: 62-50

Difference: +4

2. Minnesota Twins

The Twins were on pace to have one of the worst seasons in franchise history, but have admirably turned that around.

While they're still destined for a losing season, they are playing well enough to be overachieving by six games.

Expected Record: 45-66

Actual Record: 51-60

Difference: +6

1. San Francisco Giants

How is it that the Giants, who lost Buster Posey and Freddy Sanchez for the season, temporarily lost leading hitter Pablo Sandoval to a hand injury, and have had a terribly anemic offense all season long, are currently in first place in the NL West?

That is a mystery.

But the result is vintage overachieving for the defending world champs.

Expected Record: 56-56

Actual Record: 62-50

Difference: +6